The Lewis & Clark College Support Staff Association (LCCSSA), Local 4912, is affiliated with the AFT-Oregon, American Federation of Teachers, AFL-CIO.

Lewis & Clark recognizes LCCSSA as the sole and exclusive bargaining agent for all employees in the bargaining unit described as follows:

Includes all nonprofessional, nonexempt support staff in the College of Arts and Sciences, the Graduate School of Education and Counseling, and the Law School, including clerical, secretarial, print shop, administration offices, and laboratory technician employees.

Why was the LCCSSA formed? The LCCSSA is an organized group comprised of more than 150 support staff members. In the summer of 1987, after much discussion, research, and review, the support staff voted to affiliate with John Bailey & Associates, and in the fall filed a petition to become its own bargaining unit with the National Labor Relations Board. The NLRB defined those employees eligible to belong to the unit. A contract proposal was written by association members. Some of the issues covered were salaries, benefits (including sick leave and vacations), and reclassifications of positions, as well as grievance procedures. After lengthy negotiating, LCCSSA ratified its first contract between Lewis & Clark College and the LCCSSA on August 9, 1988.

After several years, the LCCSSA voted to pursue affiliation with a larger and more resourceful union, and disassociated with Bailey & Associates. Again, after much debate, review, and research, the LCCSSA voted in December 1994, to affiliate with the American Federation of Teachers and the AFL-CIO through AFT-Oregon. On April 1, 1995, the LCCSSA was officially chartered as AFT Local 4912.

Why are you represented by a union? The mission of the LCCSSA is primarily to oversee and safeguard the employment conditions of all members by promoting a positive working environment in conjunction with the Lewis & Clark community, and by negotiating a fair and equitable labor agreement. Your elected representatives care about and work for you.